Moment of silence remembering 9/11 prompts reflection across North community

In honor of September 11, history teacher Jonathan Bassett briefly explained the events of 9/11 and their significance before leading a school wide moment of silence at the start of C-block yesterday.

According to principal Henry Turner, the time was chosen based on the national guidelines for moments of silence on this day. However, because the exact time that the first plane crashed into the North Tower sixteen years ago, occurs during passing time at 8:46, the school chose to do it at the start of C-block instead.

“It is still a very memorable event for our country though, at this point, most of our students were not alive,” said Turner. “For many people in our community, it was a very significant event and loss.”

For senior Lukas Alexander, the day is a reminder of what could have been. “My father was originally scheduled to fly on the day of the attacks, but by coincidence got cancelled to the next day,” he said. “This serves to prove that it was just another day for work, and nobody could imagine this happening.”

Turner added that the day is an opportunity to reflect and recognize the events that occurred while also providing context to many events that still go on in the world, such as the war in Afghanistan.

Alexander echoed Turner’s sentiments. “It’s a sign of remembrance because although it happened 16 years ago, that doesn’t mean it still doesn’t affect Americans every day,” he said. “When I think of 9/11, I think of terrorism at home, which is a very scary thought. But I also think of unity and how the United States came together as a country to combat this tragedy.”

However, according to sophomore Maya Lobel, “although the nation does a good job of commemorating those lost,” the events have also caused discord among certain groups in the nation.

“Muslims in America have been treated very unfairly as a result and divides have widened between different racial and religious groups in America,” she said.

She also added that her class did not hear the C-block announcement, and thus did not hold a moment of silence.

Turner recognized that for many students, it may be hard to connect with events that happened before or shortly after they were born.

“I remember I was in high school listening to my teachers talking about where they were when John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and not necessarily being able to put myself in their shoes in understanding that, because I didn’t have that kind of event in my life” he said.

Although students may not be able to completely understand the experience of September 11, “I think that it is our job as an educator to sort of help the students hear those stories,” Turner said.